Multi-carrier reward flights

[Stephen]

Hi,

I’ve got business seats held for the following route –

Dublin -> Doha -> Bali

Cash flight – Bali to Singapore

Singapore -> Kuala Lumpar -> Colombo -> Bangalore -> London

Is there a way to check what the taxes would be?

I’ve requested this info from British Airways but they said it’ll take a couple of days for their back office team to calculate

I’ve got two more segments possible, but struggling to find a suitable flight from London that would be permitted – has anyone done anything similar?

Thanks

[e14]

Well you could use matrix as that will produce the commercial fare taxes which should be pretty close to BAs calculations

[Matt]

They have tightened up the rules I believe, so you are unlikely to be able to tack on another ex-London trip to use those segments.

[Mikeact]

Matt wrote:

They have tightened up the rules I believe, so you are unlikely to be able to tack on another ex-London trip to use those segments.

You mean to take full advantage of miles allowed ?
What makes you think the rules have changed as I’m looking to book another long haul with a further weekend at the end at some point ?

[davefl]

I think Matt is confusing the BA Holidays rules with the multi-carrier award chart which has lots of in-theory undocumented potential rules as detailed here https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/07/03/how-to-use-avios-points-to-fly-to-australia-and-new-zealand/

This is a better article https://onemileatatime.com/oneworld-partner-redemptions/

[Matt]

No, I’m not confusing the entirely separate BA holidays rules. I referring to threads such as this on Flyertalk https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/2137884-avios-rtw-multi-carrier-flight-booking.html

[marcolau]

The multi carrier award generally expects you to end in the same country you depart from – for that at best you can add a segment back to Dublin.

Otherwise, from what I see the segments may be splited as the following for fare calculation:
DUB-DOH-DPS
SIN-KUL-CMB-BLR (assuming a stopover at BLR)
BLR-LHR

Basically if some of the discussions on the Flyertalk is true you may have reached the fares limit. Not sure where you will have transit or stopover in the itinerary initially quoted, but try to play around the ITA Matrix (with the dates or the same pattern) to see if the seats you hold have fares that can be quoted. The tax quoted on ITA matrix would also be close to the one you will be quoted by BA – be prepared for a hugh YQ fee on QR segments.

[Stephen]

Just to add a data point for everyone.

Taxes came out to be £568.50 per person.

Dublin -> Doha (2 nights) -> Bali (5 nights)

Cash flight – Bali to Singapore

Singapore (2 nights) -> Kuala Lumpar -> Colombo (5 nights) -> Bangalore -> London

As you mentioned, they wouldn’t add on another segment from LHR to JFK at the end, they will only add on another European flight

[marcolau]

@Stephen
If you are getting business seats all the way, you are on the winning side. The total tax/surcharges is much lower than what ITA Matrix was quoted (the YQ on QR or BA nears £450 one way).

To add the LHR-JFK into this booking is a clear violation of the fare rules which usually requires the itinerary to end in the same IATA Zone (assuming they allow you to add a segment beyond LHR and not just to DUB)

[Stephen]

Thanks @marcolau

They are allowing an additional flight at the end from London to somewhere in Europe (same IATA zone)

[Whatsthepoint]

Just booked my first multi-partner Avios redemption as follows. Found availability London to Singapore via Doha (BA and Qatar), then Singapore to Fiji (Fiji), Fiji to Auckland (Fiji), Wellington to Kuala Lumpur via Sydney (Qantas/Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur to London via Paris (Malaysia/BA). All in Business except Fiji to Auckland. Apparently I wasn’t allowed to have this leg as the ‘maximum stop over is 72 hours’??? Also, even though it was economy, it would have priced as business? So, I’ll have to book that leg separately. Total 240000 Avios each plus yet to be confirmed taxes and charges. There was much ‘they are cracking down on these now, I am not sure they will allow it’, but after a long back office chat they have.

Current cash flights for similar route – £4764 each using China Southern, Fiji, AZ, Singapore, China Southern or £6566 with a more sensible itinerary.

I hope this is useful to anyone else thinking of doing similar.

[FunkyRedemption]

Would be interested to know what the taxes and charges are for this redemption?

[Whatsthepoint]

FunkyRedemption wrote:

Would be interested to know what the taxes and charges are for this redemption?

£1500 taxes and charges each, which seems a little high but still good value compared to cash.